JOANNA'S FOOD: family cooking, from scratch, every day

Thursday, November 06, 2008

According to the back of the tin of baked beans I've just eaten for breakfast, the British eat more baked beans than any other nation at an average of 15lb per head per year. And most of them, judging by supermarket shelf space, are either Heinz or own-brand. Both of which are, to my taste, too salty. Now, at 57p a can, I've discovered the most delicious alternative: open the can and you can smell the cinnamon, the cloves, the nutmeg - you don't get that with Heinz (65p).

6 comments:

In British books and tv shows, I always hear about 'beans on toast.' I thought baked beans were a big thing in New England, not realizing they were big in Old England as well. I'm not a fan, though I do like other bean dishes. I love your can - we always, always have a choice. So often people take the cheaper one, not realizing they may pay more later in terms of their health. Good for you!!

I'm not a huge baked bean muncher but we do have them with a cooked breakfast occasionally. Over here in NZ most brands of baked beans are too vinegar-y for my taste so I hunt out "English-style" baked beans by Heinz. I'm not sure if they're the same recipe as the ones back in England as they are made in NZ. I've noticed though that the ingredients contain "flavours" - always a concern as these don't have to be identified - so they could well be artificial. I might seek out the organic ones and try them again, but unfortunately I do prefer the taste of the aforementioned "English-style" ones.

Just loved that picture, Joanna. A tin a day: not really, but a tin a week: yes. And once in a blue moon a bean dish from the dried beans (more bothersome). I totally agree with stirring clear of those salty regular tins.

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About

We live in the countryside near Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire. This blog describes the food I make for our family: I'm not an expert, but I do cook from scratch every day. It's partly a health thing (less salt and sugar, better quality ingredients), partly because I prefer to buy food as locally as possible (great butcher nearby, a lovely Italian deli, I belong to a food co-op, a weekly vegetable box, flour from local mills). I try not to use supermarkets much, but don't always succeed. Each year, I grow a little more of our food, mainly herbs and tomatoes; I'm far too idle to grow maincrop potatoes, but this year we're growing salads and many more vegetables. We keep hens; I plan to keep bees, which would make me a third generation beekeeper. I bake all our own bread, although my children would prefer to be allowed to eat sliced white in peace.

From the start in 2005, I have written this blog mostly for myself: to help me keep track of recipes and links. I'm not saying what I do is best (or even better); I'm just writing down what I do. It gives me huge pleasure that my children use this blog when they want a recipe; I am also proud of the number of cyberfriends I have made (and met) over the years.

If you want to contact me, this is where to start: joannacary AT gmail DOT com

I'm happy to publish comments so long as I know who they are from. I have comment moderation for older posts, to block irritating spam which appears daily from Japan on a couple of posts. I will always delete anonymous comments, however flattering.